Slow Cooker Hearty White Bean Soup [slow cooker]

Slow Cooker Hearty White Bean Soup

By Diana Rattray, About.com

Serve this delicious crockpot soup recipe with hot baked cornbread or corn muffins.

Ingredients:

* 2 smoked ham hocks or a meaty ham bone
* 1 quart vegetable broth
* 1 1/2 cups sliced carrots
* 1 1/2 cups sliced celery
* 1 medium onion, diced
* 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes and juice
* 1 cup frozen baby lima beans, cooked and drained
* 1/2 cup corn kernels
* 2 to 3 cans (15 ounces each) white beans (Great Northern, Navy, etc.) , drained
* salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation:
In a 4 to 6-quart slow cooker, combine ham hocks or ham bone, vegetable broth, carrots, celery, and onion. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours, or until vegetables are tender. Carefully strain broth into a bowl and skim excess fat. Return broth to the slow cooker.Remove the ham bone or hocks to a plate; let cool. Remove meat from bones and dice; return to the broth. Add remaining ingredients along with salt and pepper, to taste, and continue cooking on HIGH for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Serves 8 to 10.

Find this recipe at:

http://southernfood.about.com/od/crockpotsoup/r/bl61220d.htm